also was strategically located on the trade routes from china to burma and india . the mongols set up military garrison ##s , manned mostly by turkic @ - @ speaking muslims from central asia , in 37 circuits of the former dali kingdom . by then , the pagan empire , despite outward appearances of calm , had been in long and slow decline since the early 13th century . the continuous growth of tax @ - @ free religious wealth had greatly reduced the tax base of the kingdom . the crown had lost resources needed to retain the loyalty of court ##iers and military servicemen , inviting a vicious circle of internal disorders and external challenges . although it was able to put down the
also was strategically located on the trade routes from china to burma and india. the mongols set up military garrisons, manned mostly by turkic @ - @ speaking muslims from central asia, in 37 circuits of the former dali kingdom. by then, the pagan empire, despite outward appearances of calm, had been in long and slow decline since the early 13th century. the continuous growth of tax @ - @ free religious wealth had greatly reduced the tax base of the kingdom. the crown had lost resources needed to retain the loyalty of courtiers and military servicemen, inviting a vicious circle of internal disorders and external challenges. although it was able to put down the